Maria Mathes

Michaelene Maria Mathes, age 83, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024.

Maria was preceded in death by her parents Michael Stephen Mathes and Matilda Pauline Kempf Mathes. She is survived by her twin sister Dr. Patricia Mathes Cane, PhD and two special friends of many years, Cindy Roybal and Carla Amoruso.

Maria was born on January 8, 1941 in Houston, Texas. She spent most of her childhood in Montebello, California. After attending Our Lady of Loretto High School, Maria entered the Sisters of the Presentation in San Francisco. There she attended the University of San Francisco for her BA in Elementary Education. Maria was a Presentation Sister for 16 years teaching in schools in Berkeley, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Pecos, New Mexico. She moved to New Mexico in the late 60s and she loved it so much she made it her home. In Pecos she was a devoted teacher for 25 years. Maria has many loving students and colleagues. She had quite a few accomplishments; among them was working with the Aids Quilt Project and as founder of the Whitney Project, supporting children with HIV/AIDS. Maria also started the Pecos Ski Club and sponsored many other clubs for youth. 

Maria was a modern day “Saint Francis”. She loved all animals, especially dogs which she rescued all the time. Later in life she worked at a kennel, where aside from walking, feeding and cleaning the animals, she specialized in wrapping urns of ashes of cremated dogs. She did that with such love and pride. She also worked as a Santa Claus and an Easter Bunny during holidays at the Santa Fe malls. Everyone who knew Maria recognized her loving, joking personality. She will truly be missed, especially by all the animals.

There will be a Mass in celebration of the life of Maria at San Isidro on Friday, October 18th, 2024 at 10 am. A gathering of friends will be held at the FOP Lodge #3 at 3300 Calle Maria Luisa, Santa Fe.

If you wish to honor Maria, you may make a donation to Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary, 3749-A State Road 14, Santa Fe, NM, 87508 or the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, 100 Caja Del Rio Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87507. Both were near and dear to Maria’s heart.